Thursday, September 22, 2011

World Animal Festival 2011

What is your favorite animal?

This is a question I often ask people. Being an animal lover I am always curious as to what kinds of animals people like. My favorite is sloths. Ever since I visited Aviarios Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica, I completely fell in love with these peaceful creatures. The photo below is Buttercup, an orphaned three-toed sloth that got rescued by Aviario's. Isn't she the cutest? She was totally posing for this photo. She even got that Mona Lisa Smile. Buttercup melts my heart...!

There are no sloths at our own local Oregon Zoo, but for the past 5 years, I've always enjoyed working there as an origami vendor for their annual World Animal Festival. I demonstrate, display, and teach my origami work. There, I ask each visitor my usual question, "What's your favorite animal?" and make whatever the response of the animal I hear in origami.

It has always been such a treat to visit and work there, and I look forward to this event every year. This year, I will be working there on Sunday, September 25 from 10am to 4pm at their Elephant Plaza.